Images

A bust of Roman emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 CE). The portrait is idealised and was produced in the reign of his successor Hadrian in 117 CE. Provenance: Ostia. (Vatican Museums, Rome).

A 3rd century CE Roman floor mosaic depicting Bacchus, god of wine. From via Flaminia, Rome. (Palazzo Massimo, Rome).

A detail from a 3rd century CE Roman sarcophagus showing the amazon Penthesilea and the Greek hero Achilles in a scene from the Trojan War. Achilles was said to have fallen in love with the amazon at the very moment he killed her with his...

A 1st century CE bust of the Athenian statesman Pericles probably from a 5th century BCE original bronze. Provenance: Rome. (Vatican Museums, Rome).

A detail of the Artemesium bronze believed to represent Zeus (or Poseidon), 460 BCE. (National Archaeological Museum, Athens).

Temple Period, 4000 - 2500 BCE. This clay figure of a reclining lady was found in one of the pits of the Hypogeum in Hal Saflieni in Malta. It has traces of red ochre paint and is thought to represent a "mother goddess", even though she may...

A 1st century CE portrait of the Greek blind poet Homer, celebrated author of the Iliad and Odyssey. This bust is based on a 5th century BCE original but even that was an idealised representation as no contemporary portrait existed. (Vatican...

An image of a Ming dynasty woodcut showing the main steps in the ancient Chinese papermaking process as outlined by Cai Lun in 105 CE.

A servant statue, Western Han Period (206 BCE – 9 CE). Cernuschi Museum, Paris, France.

Map showing the political division in the Eastern hemisphere in 1 CE. The Han dynasty was almost at its peak in terms of geographical expansion.